Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease

There are a lot of disease found in the world today that can greatly affect the nutrition and well being of the human body. One of the diseases that is personally affecting me is Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a genetic disease, and can be very hard to keep under control. Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease with multiple signs and symptoms it can affect you when dealing with other illnesses, and can be controlled by diet and medication. A diagnosis of Crohn's may involve blood tests, stool tests, upper GI, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or biopsy.

First I am going to tell you about the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cronhs/ ) Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea. Crohn’s disease is very difficult to diagnose. In Crohn’s disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel. (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cronhs/ )The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Vomiting, Rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, kidney stones, skin problems, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies. In severe cases of the disease it is found difficult for the body to accept any nutritional value it otherwise normally would. People with extensive small intestine...